*This is it. The storm has intensified and has hit the area. What will happen? Read on!*
The next day, the storm continued to intensify bringing on strong winds and sideways rain. The toy family, Jack, his wife, and kid, and Owen sat in the living room, watching the news broadcast.
"This storm will progress as the day goes on, bringing about strong winds, damaging hail, and heavy downpours. The weather man said. If you can get to a safe place, whether that be a relative's house or a shelter away from windows, I highly suggest you do that and soon. We'll have more on this forecast as it develops." They cut away to a sports segment and Hamm turned down the volume.
"Well that explains why Bonnie and her parents left in such a hurry this morning." Dolly said.
"Did they say where they were going?" Jessie asked.
"To her cousins house. Chuckles said. It's further up north, away from the direction of the storm."
"Nice of her to take any of us with her." Potato Head mumbled. His wife elbowed him.
"I don't think I've ever seen a storm this bad before." Angelina said.
"Woody and I have." Slinky said, looking at the sheriff. Woody looked at him, confused. "Oh, come on, the super storm of ninety-two?" Woody thought for a moment.
"Oh yeah, Super storm Henry. Woody said sadly. That storm came out of nowhere. Damaged several homes across two blocks, hail damage, and the wind. There was actually a tornado. There have been very rare occurrences of tornadoes in the tri-county, only one has been as devastating, and it was super storm Henry."
"Do you think this storm will be as powerful, mate?" Jack asked. Woody sighed.
"It sure is looking that way."
"I remember too that tons of toys got separated from their owners. Slinky said. Many of them had to be left behind and after the storm, clean-up crews had found so many toys among the debris."
"That won't happen to us, right?" Penelope Pea asked.
"Yeah, we won't get separated. Right, uncle Woody?" Everyone turned their heads towards Woody. Woody looked at the faces of his family: his friends, his sister, brother, wife, and daughter. He took a deep breath, but when he released it, it came out staggered.
"Look, I could tell you that all storms are not the same, and that each one brings about a different conflict. But I'm not going to say that. What I will tell you, what I will ask of you, is that if the storm does separate us, I want you to first not panic. Remain calm, check to see if you are injured. If not, if you can, get somewhere safe. If along the way, you see any toy who is injured, help them, and then find a place, a shelter or structure to wait out the storm. We will find you when it is safe to go out."
"Go somewhere safe? That's the best you can come up with?" Potato Head asked.
"Darling…" Mrs. Potato Head, started to say.
"How can he say that when we don't even know if we'll survive this? You said this storm is proving to be stronger than the super storm. That storm separated toys, possibly killed them. How can you guarantee that we'll be able to find everyone, Woody? How?"
"How dare you." Rosetta asked. Owen held her arm.
"Rose, it's fine, honey." Jessie said, coming towards her.
"No, it's not. No one knows what this storm is going to do. No one knows the damage it may bring, not you, not me, not my father, not any of us. None of us knows what we are up against. My father doesn't guarantee we will all survive this, though he hopes we do, he is telling you what to do now to make sure you do survive. Get to a safe place and assist with injured if you can. When it is completely safe, then we will figure out how to get back to everyone. We've been through horrible things before. Each time, we have overcome because of our strength and determination. We'll can do it again. We will do it again, because we are a family, all of us, and we will fight for each other no matter what." Potato head shut his lips tight. Bo nudged Woody.
"That's our girl." She whispered. He smiled and crossed his arms. All of a sudden, the lights started flickering and the screen on the TV began to lose focus. With a pop, the lights went off, covering the room in complete and total darkness.
"Well this is just great." Potato Head mumbled.
"Can you ever be positive for once in your life?" Dolly asked.
"A positive spud head? Not possible." Hamm laughed. They all chuckled a little until they heard something hit the house.
"What was that?" Trixie asked. They heard the sound again, but this time, it was louder. Jack looked out the window and saw a tree limb coming straight for them.
"Hit the deck, me hearties!" He said, pulling his wife and son down onto the floor. Woody did the same with Bo, Owen with Rosetta, and Buzz with Jessie. The others flattened themselves on the floor as the tree crashed through the window into the living room.
"Is everyone alright?" Buzz asked, helping Jessie to her feet. Everyone murmured their okays and 'we're fines'. Owen helped Rosetta to her feet before something outside caught his eye. He climbed up the side of the tree to get a better look. What he saw made his stomach drop.
"Um, Woody. Come up here for a minute please?" Woody helped Bo to a standing position, and then climbed up next to his son in-law. "That tornado you mentioned earlier, was it as big as that one?" He pointed to a large swirling twister forming, touching down in the center of the road. Woody's eyes widened and he let out a weak, staggered gasp.
"No. No, that, that is twice the size Henry was. We have to go. We have to get clear of that twister! Remember what I said. Stay together if you can and then get somewhere safe!"
"Dad." Rosetta ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. "We will make it out of this right?" Woody held her close before kneeling down to look in her eyes.
"I want you to remember something, Rose. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Remember that and you will get through this and find your way back to us. I love you, sweetheart." He kissed her forehead and hugged her. Bo came over and joined in the hug. The sheriff held onto his girls tightly, never wanting to let go.
"Woody! It's getting closer!" Buzz shouted.
"Run for it!" Woody shouted. They ran out of the hole in the side of the house, struggling against the strong winds, trying desperately to get someplace safe out of the storms path. But the winds were too fast and too strong and soon, they were swept up along with debris. Couples held their significant other tight, friends grabbed for each other, screaming as the twister tore through the tri-county.
*Dun! Dun! Dun! Okay, for the next few chapters, it will be rough. The true strength of this crew will come out. I said in the description that a few minor characters will perish, and one major one. One character will be badly hurt, some only slightly, but most will be unscratched. You have been warned!*